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'AKOM' IN THE MBU - WHEN A MOTHER SUDDENLY BECOMES A PRIESTESS

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  “Boss, you won’t believe what happened today!” Juliet, the indefatigable medical officer for the paediatric unit, exclaimed. I was on leave, but as her senior, she would call me to discuss complex cases. “What happened?” I asked. “One of the mothers at the Mother and Baby Unit (MBU) started dancing around in circles and chanting,” she said. “Really? Why?” I asked. She then narrated what had happened. The son of this woman had been on admission at the MBU for a while due to the nature of his illness. As is usual in our setting, the relatives at home started asking questions. It was revealed to the mother that her sister-in-law was responsible for the baby’s illness and she needed to bring the baby home for rituals. The baby’s maternal grandfather, a fetish priest was the one going to perform the rituals, so they requested that the baby be discharged. Unfortunately for the family, but fortunately for the baby, according to our laws, a child who needs medical care cannot be disc...
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WHY DOES MY BABY CRY A LOT, PASS MUCH GAS AND KEEP STRETCHING?

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  Many parents get worried when their babies cry excessively. Excessive crying in babies could be due to several things. For example, wet diapers, pain from an insect bite or injury, unwellness, hunger, thirst, etc. Sometimes, babies cry and pass out a lot of gas while stretching. They may even refuse breast milk. And parents are often left worried, not knowing what to do. These babies most likely have  infantile colic , a disturbance in the gastrointestinal tract or the gut. What causes infantile colic? The exact cause is largely unknown. Colonic fermentation, which is the breakdown of carbohydrates into fatty acids and other metabolites in the large intestine by anaerobic bacteria has been proposed as a cause. During this fermentation process, gases are produced. Excess gas in the infant's immature gut can cause much discomfort. Colic is also thought to be associated with excessive swallowing of air when the baby is feeding. Some studies also suggest that psychoso...
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THE WHITE GOLD

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Gold is a mineral of immense value, often leading to environmental destruction in its pursuit. However, there's something even more valuable, and it's readily available to you. Unlike gold, it doesn't require destroying water bodies or land. This 'white gold' is breastmilk, an invaluable resource that you, as a mother, provide for your child. Why is there a need to draw attention to breast milk?   Because it's a treasure that's often overlooked. Breast milk contains the right amounts of nutrients for the growth and development of babies. Its composition changes as the baby grows to meet its changing needs. The initial yellow breast milk(colostrum) that flows in the first 2 to 4 days is rich in minerals, antibodies, and protein. It changes into transitional milk from days 5 to 14, and from day 14 onwards, mature milk starts flowing. This mature milk, rich in carbohydrates and fats, helps the baby to gain weight. Certain substances in breast milk, called...
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